What to check before buying a used pushchair

The four safety points

The harness

Five points, straps not frayed, a buckle that clicks firmly shut and doesn't open when pulled. A tired buckle rules the pushchair out: on most models it can't be replaced separately.

The brake

It must hold both rear wheels still, and hold on a slope. Try it on the spot, with some weight in it if possible.

The folding lock

The chassis must lock in the open position with a clean click. A soft lock means a pushchair that folds up while you are pushing it.

Wheels and steering

Wheels that turn freely, no excessive play in the forks, front wheels that lock in the straight position if the model allows it.

Recalls: the check nobody does

A pushchair may have been the subject of a manufacturer's recall. Note the exact model and year, and look them up before buying — most manufacturers publish this information, and an unresolved recall is a known defect.

If you are selling: a recalled model must be disclosed. Keeping quiet about it makes you liable.

Completeness

A pushchair sells as a system. Ask for the list:

• chassis and wheels;
• carrycot, if the model has one;
• seat unit;
• car seat adapters, and which brand they fit;
• rain cover, parasol, basket, hand muffs;
• manual.

A missing part can be bought again, but often at a price out of all proportion to the value of the whole. Check before you negotiate, not after.

Condition of the fabric

On most models it comes off and can be washed. Stains are therefore not a deal-breaker — worn straps are.

Look at the headrest foam, the stitching at the harness anchor points, and the condition of the carrycot cover if it is included.

Trying it out

• Fold and unfold it yourself, twice. It is what you will be doing every day.
• Push it for a few metres, including on a pavement.
• Check that the pushchair fits in your boot when folded. Take the measurements with you.

Questions to ask

• How many children have used it?
• Has it been kept outside, in a damp cellar, in a garage?
• Has it had a fall, or a knock?
• Do you have the purchase receipt?

A pushchair used by a single child, kept indoors, with its manual and its receipt, is worth noticeably more — and genuinely is worth it.